Big Phil moves on after transforming Brazil

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari quit on Friday but he will be remembered for leading his team from one of the lowest ebbs in their history to World Cup victory in 14 short and eventual months.

When Scolari took over in June last year, Brazil were in a danger of missing out of losing their proud record as the only country to have played at every World Cup and he was in danger of going down in history as the man in charge when in happened.

Three defeats in his first five games -- including a humiliating Copa America loss to Honduras which almost cost him the job -- left Scolari perilously close to the precipice before his team began a timely revival.

Barely one year later, "Big Phil" has gone down in history for a very different reasons after leading his country to an unprecedented fifth world title and winning all seven World Cup matches in the process.

Brazil's victory was a reward for a man who stood by his decisions, even in the face of relentless and sometimes vicious criticism.

Throughout, Scolari said he would do things his way -- which ultimately proved to be the right one.

PRESIDENTIAL LOBBY

Scolari refused to pick veteran striker Romario, claiming the 1994 World Cup hero would not fit in with a system which asked even star players to tackle, mark and occasionally sit on the substitutes bench.

In doing so, he had to defy a wave of popular pressure, which even included lobbying from President Fernando Henrique Cardoso and which turned into a soap opera-like saga when the player himself wept during a tearful media conference.

Big Phil's second big decision was to persist with Rivaldo, the former Barcelona player who seemed to turn into a lethargic, ponderous shadow of his normal self when he pulled on the Brazil shirt.

Scolari told Rivaldo he could play ten bad games without being dropped.

His confidence in the player was rewarded as Rivaldo had an outstanding World Cup, scoring five goals and setting up several others including the second in the 2-0 win over Germany in the final.

Equally boldly, he gambled on the fitness of Ronaldo -- who had barely played in the previous two years after two knee operations -- when many claimed he was being irresponsible.

Ronaldo repaid Scolari's faith by scoring eight goals, finishing the World Cup as top scorer.

Finally, Scolari stuck by his 3-5-2 formation when many wanted to go back to the more conventional 4-4-2.

The transformation of his own image was almost as astonishing as Brazil's change in fortunes.

His arrival had been greeted with enormous suspicion.

Although Scolari had won a hatful of major titles at club level, he also had a reputation for employing physical violence and gamesmanship.

He was frequently sent off for the touchline for arguing and even fighting, and had publicly encouraged his players to foul the opposition. Some commentators even dubbed it "bullyboy football".

BEAUTIFUL GAME

Brazil's early games seemed to confirm the worst fears as Scolari himself warned his compatriots: "There's no more Beautiful Game. You are not going to see the Brazil of 1958, 1962 or 1970 again. We are in 2001."

But at the World Cup, Scolari showed himself to be an astute, cunning and pragmatic coach, able to dance according to the music.

In the first round, it was all-out attack as Brazil scored 13 goals and conceded three in three games, a strategy Scolari said was needed to restore respect for his team.

After that, Scolari reinforced the marking after it became clear that the defence had been left exposed.

Perhaps his finest game was the quarter-final against England.

Reduced to ten men and leading 2-1 with half an hour left, Brazil adapted superbly to the circumstances, keeping possession, taking the ball into the corners and making time pass. The English barely got a look in.

During all this, Scolari placed a huge emphasis on team spirit, banishing the vanity and clashing of egos which had often spoiled past Brazil campaigns.

By the time he returned home, Big Phil was seen as a grumpy but ultimately soft-hearted fatherly figure -- an image used by advertisers to sell televisions, fizzy drinks and long-distance telephone calls.

On announcing his resignation, Scolari made it clear his ambition was to be allowed the chance to coach a European club. And he was typically forthright about what any future employers could expect.

"I want to say that any club which hires me will be become winners," he said. "And if they are already winners, then they will win even more."